Full-time: Middlesbrough 1 Blackburn 1

AITOR KARANKA was sent to the stands before the final whistle and Blackburn Rovers had snatched a point to leave Middlesbrough frustrated at the Riverside Stadium.

Patrick Bamford’s fourth goal in five games seven minutes before the end looked to have secured the victory which Boro’s performance deserved.

Had Middlesbrough held on then they would be sitting in the top two tonight, but Blackburn made the most of some late drama in their favour to secure a draw.

Rovers substitute Chris Brown appeared to barge in to the back of Dimi Konstantopoulos as he went up for a cross. The Greek goalkeeper, who required treatment after, missed the catch and Rudy Gestede drilled in the equaliser.

Referee Mark Clattenburg was surrounded by Boro players infuriated with the decision to allow play to go on and Karanka was eventually sent down the tunnel for his protests.

Middlesbrough, who had slipped down to fourth before kick-off because of Ipswich’s win at Charlton, had impressed throughout the afternoon without finding the net until Bamford’s goal.

Simon Eastwood, making his first start in goal since January because Jason Steele, on loan from Middlesbrough, was ineligible to face his parent club, was outstanding.

He made a number of top quality stops, the best of which was from a Jelle Vossen header in the second half.

But Middlesbrough eventually broke through. A failure to deal with a corner saw a half clearance drop invitingly for Bamford to power towards goal. It was helped on its way by a deflection, but Eastwood was finally beaten.

Blackburn, however, battled back Gestede hit the equaliser when Konstantopoulos was not allowed to deal with the ball in to his box late on because of a shove in the back from Chris Brown. MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1): Konstantopoulos; Fredericks (Nsue 45), Ayala (Gibson), Omeruo, Friend; Leadbitter, Whitehead; Adomah, Tomlin, Bamford; Vossen (Kike 74). Subs (not used): Mejias (gk), Reach, Wildshcut, Veljkovic.

BLACKBURN (4-4-2): Eastwood; Baptiste, Hanley (Henley 41), Duffy, Olsson; Tunnicliffe, Williamson, Evans (Brown 85), Marshall; Gestede, Rhodes (Conway 67). Subs (not used): Kean (gk), Dunn, Varney, Taylor.